Chapter 21 - Valith

“Ladies, that’s where I take my leave. I’ll meet you on the road to the Pillar tomorrow.” Turning to Morgan, Heilig smiled wryly. “Be strong.” 
Her hat kept swaying with each of her steps. She was mumbling more than usual. 
Aurora stopped, and they put down the stretcher on which an unconscious Lumen was resting. He had been surprisingly easy to transport. No movement at all, and he was lighter than he looked. 

“Don’t take any unnecessary risks.” 
“I should be the one saying that, boss. You’re the ones entering the lion’s den.” 
“I wish I could take you with us. An extra pair of hands could prove useful,” and I could use your knowledge. 
She couldn’t tell him. He would insist on coming if he knew what she was planning, despite the risks. 

With his help, Aurora put Lumen on her back, ready to carry him until town. Morgan took the chance to scuttle by her side. Relieved, Aurora was about to let out a smile, when she noticed her companion grabbing Lumen’s hand. She barely let go of him during the journey here. Sleeping next to him, touching him whenever she could, weaving small spells. Aurora didn’t see her face since he passed out. 
She knew why Morgan was angry, and she was mad at herself for it. Was Valith better than waiting for Lumen to rest? 

No, she couldn’t afford to lose time. They had to reach the Pillar, and soon. 
Yet… it was heartbreaking for Aurora to bring Morgan there. She would do her best to leave before they would be found out, but she had little hope it would go smoothly. 

With a resolute look forward, she marched toward the town. Morgan followed, not letting go of his hand. Heilig swiftly disappeared out of sight. She hoped he would be fine. She wouldn’t have the time to save him this time. 
Her shoulders were tensed, her back arched. It wasn’t due to Lumen’s weight, but the heavier responsibilities she had to shoulder for the group. For Morgan. For the world. 
She had faced impossible odds on the battlefield before, but nothing compared to what awaited them.
And she would face it. 
They would face it. 
She was with Morgan. As much as she wouldn’t have feared anything alone, it was her reaction that worried her. 

She emerged from her thoughts when they passed the first houses. The road was wider now, and clearly marked by the passage of carts and wagons. 
Morgan was trying to disappear under her hat. But it only made her easy to identify. The late afternoon was coloring the landscape in orange hues. They only passed two people getting out of town. Farmers going back to their fields before dark after selling their produce and drinking their problems away, as their unsure steps could attest. 
It wouldn’t take long for them to be in a bustling street, though, surrounded by people who would look at them. And then it would be a matter of time. Aurora was hoping for at least a couple of hours. They should be able to reach the church before the dreaded encounter. 
Good. On sacred ground, she would feel more at ease, and she would use her powers to alleviate some of Morgan’s worries. 

As they got deeper into town, houses got closer to each other, until they were forming two impenetrable walls on either side of the road. They now had to squeeze their way through a crowd, but thanks to Aurora’s armor, most opened the way before them. 
Morgan got closer. If her hands were not full with holding Lumen on her back, Aurora would have held her. At least Morgan was holding his hand, and they wouldn’t be separated that easily. 

Navigating the streets wasn’t hard. The church was at the center of the town, and the main streets were converging towards it. Aurora didn’t like the idea of taking the main streets, so she guided the group through shortcuts and darker alleys. Night would fall soon, and between the stacked houses, there was already no sun to light the way. 
Morgan was already weaving a light spell. Producing a glowing orb, she attached it to the top of her staff and used it to see where she walked. She didn’t make any effort to light the path in front of Aurora, but it was enough for her to not bump into anything big. Her sabatons would probably get dirty, judging by the sound made by some of her steps. But that was the least of her worries at the moment.

They progressed quicker without the crowd, and were less likely to be spotted. But she was aware of the risks. The war with Dranar was over, and those who made it back weren’t the same. Conscripts who were given a semblance of a weapon and the promise of gold if they died for their duke returned less than they were. Many of them unable to go back to whatever work they left behind, shunned by their families, and with barely enough silver to make up for the time they spent on the frontline.

Professional soldiers didn’t have to worry about anything like that. They either died as heroes or came back to a garrison where they’d supervise the next generation. No wounds, no lost limb could take away the knowledge they could pass on. Aurora was taught by such a veteran. An old soldier who lost a leg and an eye. He was still a real threat with his crutch. He taught her well. But the battlefield taught her the ugly truth of war. After her first campaign, she couldn’t look at his facial scar the same. 

A noise cut her reminiscing short. An empty crate was now on the floor before them. The dimly lit street was the perfect place for an ambush. Morgan’s light was darting around, unable to locate whatever could have made it fall. 

Damn. 
It wasn’t good. She couldn’t fight with Lumen on her back, and Morgan—
Morgan was already weaving a spell, unfazed, her hat wobbling back and forth as she was focusing on the shapes forming in front of her, glowing in shades of red. 
Before Aurora could react, a shade darted from behind a corner towards a small backdoor on the nearby wall. A flame rope whipped the position where it had been mere moments after. 

“Mercy” 
The coarse voice came from behind the door frame. Morgan directed her light towards it, revealing a man, disheveled, clad in ragged clothes, his brown hair in serious need of a cut. 
“…crow…” 
“I’m no threat. Have mercy, please.” 
“Show us your hands!”
He complied immediately, lifting both hands in front of him. One palm opened towards them, the other a stump at the wrist. 

“…burn…” 
“Wait.” Aurora’s mind was racing. 
“Sir, we won’t hurt you. We’re in a rush, and we could use your help.” 
He hesitated. 
“What more do you want from me? My hand wasn’t enough? You bast—”
His eyes widened as he recognized Aurora’s uniform. 
“You’re…” 
“Albert?” 
He flinched at the mention of his name. 
“I remember you. The bridge at Kerl Crossing.” 
He fell to his knees. 
“Why? Why didn’t you let me die there?” 

Why? 
Always the same question. 
Why? 

“Do I need a reason to save someone?” 
“I’d been better dead. Look at me.” Tears were running down his cheeks. “You should have left me dead.” 
“I—” 
“Kill me…” 
Aurora was at a loss for words. 
He was begging her. His face, marked by the ravage of war and starvation, was a death mask staring at her. 
He was there because she saved him. 

Why? 

“Listen. I know of a way for you to make some money.” 
“Shut up!” 
“I’m serious.” 
“Just end me. Please…” 
“Albert. There are people who would want to know that I’m here.” With a side glance at Morgan, she bit her lip before continuing. “Go to the Bairne manor and tell them you saw me. They’ll want to know where.” 
He spat on the ground at the mention of the name, but he kept listening. 
“Ask them for a place to stay tonight in exchange for more. And show them this emblem to prove you’re not lying.” 
Turning to Morgan, Aurora silently asked her for help. The fire rope was resting on the ground like a dangerous snake, and suddenly melted into the dirt, leaving no traces. Morgan lifted a hand to grab the brooch holding Aurora’s cape around her neck. Carefully, she folded it neatly before handing the metal ring and the sword-like clasp dangling off it to the man. 
“Once they accept, tell them you saw me at the Church.” 
Morgan was silent. No mumbling came from under the hat. 
So much for keeping a low profile. 
But it would be better to meet them on her terms.